Folding baby-carriage.



A. E. MoGILL.

FOLDING BABY CARRIAGE.

AiPLIOATION IIL'ED SEPT. 7, 1909. RENEWED SEPT. 17, 1913.

Patented Apr. 28, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

A. E. MoGILL.

FOLDING BABY CARRIAGE.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 7, 1909. RENEWED SEPT.1'7. 1912.

1 ,O94,4;58, Patented Apr. 28, 1914.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

"ill" STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT E. MCGILL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIG-NOR, BY IVIES NEASSIGNMENTS, TO WILLIAM S. FER-BIS, OF ELKHAR-T, INDIANA, AND ALEXANDERB. LEITH, OF

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, TRUSTEES.

FOLDING BABY-CARRIAGE.

rosaass.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 28, 1914.

Application filed September 7, 1909, Serial No. 516,569. RenewedSeptember 1'7, 1913. Serial No. 790,354.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT E. MOGILL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Baby-Carriages,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to folding baby car- 'iages, more particularly todoll carriages of that type in. which the wheels fold under the runninggear frame transversely thereof in a substantially fiat and compact formwhile the handle folds downwardly upon the frame, and the invention hasfor its primary object to provide improved simple and effective meanswhereby the folding and unfolding action of the handle willautomatically and respectively fold and unfold the wheels in oneoperation.

A further object is to provide improved means whereby the folding andunfolding action of the handle will cause the wheels respectively tofold and unfold in pairs sequentially.

To the attainment of these ends and the acconn lishment of other new anduseful objects, as will appear, the invention consists in the featuresof novelty in the construction, combination and arrangement of theseveral parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed and shown inthe accompanying drawings illustrating an embodiment of the invention,and in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a baby carriageconstructed in accordance with the principles of this invention. Fig. 2is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing the same partially folded orcollapsed. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 33 of Fig. 1, showing indotted lines the wheels on one side in a partially folded position. Fig.4 is a detail sectional view on line 4l--t of Fig. 1.

In the drawings, the seat and its supports have been omitted, as theconstruction of these features forms no part of the present invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the running gear frame isshown as being composed of spaced side bars or members 10, which areconnected at their forward extremity by a cross bar 11. The rear ends ofthe side bars 10 are connected together by means of a cross bar 12,which bar also serves as a means of pivotally connecting the side barsof the handle 14: and the running gear frame.

The wheels are mounted in two pairs 15, 16, one pair on each side of therunning gear frame, and each wheel is suitably ournaled in a bracket orwheel support 17 of any desired construction and which are rotatablyconnected to the side bars 10 in any suitable manner. The wheel bracketsor supports 17 are connected together in pairs by any suitable means,preferably by means of longitudinal bars 18, 19 respectively, which aresecured to the inner branches or faces of 'the wheel sup-ports, so thatwhen the wheel on one side is folded or unfolded, the other wheel on thesame side will make a like movement. The wheel supports are held againstlongitudinal displacementwith respect to the side bars 10 in anysuitable manner, preferably by means of clips 20 secured to the sidebars 10 and through which a portion of the wheel supports pass.

On each side of the running gear frame is mounted a deflectable uprightor standard 21 which may be pivotally mounted in any suitable manner butare preferably pivoted directly to the respective side bars 10, thebolts or fastening devices 22 forming the pivots for the uprights. Theseuprights 21 are provided with downwardly extending portions 23 whichproject between the connecting bars 18 and the free extremities of theportions 28 are connected. by a cross bar or member 24: to form abail-like portion. These uprights or standards 21 with the bail-likeextensions 23 are preferably lo cated adjacent the forward wheelsupports 17, so that when the wheel supports are in an unfoldedposition, the extension 23 will stand between the connecting bars 18,19, to brace the forward wheel supports and to hold the latter againstcollapsing. The uprights or standards 21 are adapted to be moved abouttheir pivots by the folding and unfolding movement of the handle 14: andin order to'accomplish this operation, the upper extremities of thestandards 21 are connected respectively to the side bars of the handle14 by means of connecting links or members 25.

The wheel supports may be locked in their unfolded position by means ofdeflectable members 26, one of which is pivotally connected as at 27 toeach of the side bars of the running gear frame, preferably adjacent therear wheel supports 17. A portion of each of these deflectable members26 depends below the running gear frame and the lower free extremitiesare connected in the usual manner to form a bail-like member. The upperportions 2'7 of the members 26 pro ject above the running gear frame andare connected respectively to the side bars of the handle 1st by meansof links 28 which latter are pivotally connected to the handle and tothe portions 27 so that when the handle is folded or unfolded, thelocking bail will be moved about its pivots.

The extremity of the connecting bars 18 and 19 preferably project beyondthe rear wheel supports 17, as at 29, and secured thereto is a memberwhich is spaced from the extremity 29 to form a catch into which therespective members 26 enter when the wheel supports and handle are inunfolded positions to lock the structure in position for use.

In order to lock the handle against folding movement, there may beprovided locking braces 30, 31, which are pivotally connected as at thefree extremity of the locking members being secured respectively to theside bars 10 of the running gear frame and the side bars of the handlelat. lVhen the locking braces are thrown into line with each other, thehandle will be secured against movement. When it is desired to fold thehandle, the locking braces 30 and 31 may be deflected with respect toeach other to permit the handle to fold downwardly upon the running gearframe, .as shown more clearly in Fig. 2.

In order to cause the wheels and wheel supports to simultaneously foldand unfold in pairs in one operation respectively with the folding andunfolding movement of the handle, there is provided a link 33, which issupported by and surrounds the connecting bar 19 and also surrounds theadjacent depending extension 23 of the upright or standard 21, above thecross bar or connect ing member 2-11., as shown more clearly in Fig.This link or ring 33 is of a size to loosely engage the parts and topermit free adjustment thereof.

A second connecting bar 34 is provided which connects the wheel supports17 on the side of the running gear frame opposite to the side on whichthe connecting bar 19 is located, and this connecting bar 3 1 ispreferably located in close proximity to the respective side bar 10 andis spaced from the connecting bar 18. A link or ring 35, similar to thelink or ring 33, surrounds the connecting bar 3st and also the adjacentdepending portion of the upright or standard 21. This ring or link isalso of a size to loosely engage the parts to permit the latter to morefreely when the handle 14 is unlocked and adjusted.

lVith this improved construction it will be apparent that when thehandle 14 is folded or unfolded, the links 33 and 35 will be moved bythe depending portions 23 of the uprights or standards 21 along therespec tive bars 19, 3-1:, until the links assume such a position on thebars that a further deflection of the uprights or standards 21 abouttheir pivots, will draw the bars 19, 3 1 inwardly toward each other tomove the wheel supports 17 about their pivots and to cause the wheels tofold against the bottom of the running gear frame. Before the links 33,35 have reached positions to draw the bars 19, 3% toward each other, thelocking bail 26 will have been deflected about its pivot to disengagethe catch formed by the extremity 29 of the bars 18, 19 and the members30. The unfolding movement of the handle 1-1 will cause the wheelsupports to be deflected outwardly away from each other and into aposition for use and when the wheel supports have reached this position,the locking bail 26 will enter the catches to lock the wheels inposition. It will be apparent that the movement of these uprights orstandards 21 and the depending portions 23 in response to the foldingaction of the handle will swing the wheel supports inwardly and carrythe wheels toward the plane of the running gear frame and in order thatthis foldinp action of the two pairs of wheels may take placesequentially so that the wheels of one pair will not clash with those ofanother pair and thereby defeat the folding movement, the connecting orcross bar 2st between the depending poitions 23 of the uprights orstandards 21 is provided with a cam or bend 36, with which the link orring 33 engages as the member 21 moves toward the plane of the runninggear frame to hasten the folding act-ion of the pair of wheels to whichthe ring is connected. This cam or bend 36 is of such a size and ispreferably so located that the pair of wheels to which the ring 33 isconnected will begin to fold before the other pair of wheels, so that intheir folded positions the pairof wheels 16 will fold between the otherpair of wheels 15 and the bottom of the running gear frame.

hen the handle is moved from its unfolded position, the outermost pairof wheels will swin about their pivots more rapidly than the other pairof wheels to permit the pairs of wheels to unfold sequentially.

During the folding movement of the handle, the rings or links 33, 35will travel to gether along the bars 19, 34:, until the ring 33 engagesthe cam 36. A further movement of the handle in the same direction willforce the ring 33 over the cam 36 to fold the wheel 16. During a portionof this folding movement the ring 35 will travel still farther along thebar 34 before it has assumed a position to draw the correspondingsupports inward upon the other supports, as shown in Fig. 2.

In order that the invention may be fully understood, the details of theforegoing embodimentthereof have been thus specifically described, but

hat is claimed as new is 1. In a folding carriage, the combination of arunning gear frame, wheel supports pivoted to fold under said frame,defiectable arms depending below the frame, bars connecting said wheelsupports in pairs, means separate from and movable independently withrelation to said arms and the respective connecting bars, looselyembracing and slidable upon both whereby the wheels will beautomatically swung into position for use when the arms are deflected inone direction and collapsed against the running gear frame when the armsare moved in the opposite direction, a fo-ldable handle, and meanswhereby the folding and unfolding movements of the handle will deflectsaid.

arms.

2. In a folding carriage, the combination of a running gear frame, wheelsupports pivoted to fold under said frame, deflectable arms dependingbelow the frame, bars connecting said wheel supports in pairs, a ringseparate from and loosely surrounding each of said arms and therespective connecting bars and movable independently with respect toboth whereby the wheels will be automatically swung into position foruse when the arms are deflected in one direct-ion and collapsed againstthe running gear frame when the arms are deflected in the oppositedirection.

3. In a collapsible carriage, the combination with a running gear frame,of wheel supports pivotally mounted on the running gear frame, barsconnecting the wheel supports in pairs, arms pivotally mounted on thesides of the frame and connected together below the frame by across-bar, the said cross-bar having a bend adjacent one arm, and closedlinks encircling the said connecting bars and the arms and adapted toswing the pairs of wheels about their pivotal supports one pair inadvance of the other when the arms are rotated.

l. In a collapsible carriage, the combination with a running gear frame,of wheel supports pivotally mounted on the running gear frame, barsconnecting the wheel supports in longitudinal pairs, one bar beinghigher than the other, arms pivoted in the sides of the frame having aconnecting cross-bar below the frame with a bend adjacent one of thearms, and closed rings encircling each of the bars and the adjacent arm,the pairs of wheels being rotated one in advance of the other when thesaid arms are moved about their pivots.

In a folding carriage, the combination of a running gear frame, wheelsupports rotatably mounted to fold transversely thereof, connecting barssecuring said wheel supports together in pairs, at deflectable baillikemember depending below the frame, said member comprising spaced arms anda connecting portion, one of said arms being disposed adjacent each ofthe connecting bars between the wheel, supports, and encircling memberssurrounding and slidable upon each of the connecting bars and therespective adjacent arm, whereby the wheel supports will be foldedagainst the frame when the bail-like member is deflected in the oppositedirection, the connecting portion between the arms of the bail-likemember being deflected to form a cam adapted to be engaged by one of theencircling members to cause one of the pairs of wheel supports to foldin advance of the other.

6. In a folding carriage, the combination of a running gear frame, wheelsupports rotatably mounted to fold transversely thereof, connecting barssecuring said wheel sup-- ports together in pairs, a defiectablebail-like member depending below the frame, said member comprisingspaced arms and a connecting portion, one of said arms being disposedadjacent each of the connecting bars between the wheel supports, andencircling members surrounding and slidable upon each of the connectingbars and the respective adjacent arm, whereby the wheel supports will befolded against the frame when the bail-like member is deflected in onedirection and unfolded when deflected in the opposite direction, theconnecting portion between the arms of the baillike member beingdeflected to form a cam adapted to be engaged by one of the encirclingmembers to cause one of the pairs of wheel supports to fold in advanceof the other, said connect ing bars and the respective encirclingmembers being located in different horizontal planes.

7. In a folding carriage, the combination of a running gear frame,whee-l supports rotatably mounted to fold transversely thereof,connecting bars securing said wheel supports together in pairs, adefiectable baillike member depending below the frame, said membercomprising spaced arms and a connecting portion, one of said arms beingdisposed adjacent each of the connect-ing bars between the wheelsupports, encircling members surrounding and slidable upon each of theconnecting bars and the respective adjacent arm whereby the wheelsupports will be folded against the frame when the bail-like member isdeflected in one direction and unfolded when deflected in the oppositedirection, the connecting portion between the arms of the bail-likemember being deflected to form a cam adapted to be engaged by one of theencircling members to cause one of the pairs of wheel supports to foldin advance of the other, said connecting bars and the respectiveencircling members being located in different horizontal planes, andmeans operating in unison with the said bail-like member and cooperatingwith the wheel supports for locking the latter in posi tion for use.

8. In a folding carriage, the combination of a running gear frame, wheelsupports rotatably mounted to fold transversely thereof, connecting barssecuring said wheel supports together in pairs, a detlectable bail-likemember depending below trieframe, said member comprising spaced arms anda connecting portion, one of said arms being disposed adjacent each ofthe connecting bars between the wheel supports, encircling memberssurrounding and slidable upon each of the connecting bars and therespective adjacent arm, whereby the wheel supports will be foldedagainst the frame when the baillilte member is deflected in onedirection and unfolded when deflected in the opposite direction, theconnecting portion between the arms of the bail-like member beingdeflected to form a cam adapted to be engaged by one of the encirclingmembers to cause one of the pairs of wheel supports to fold in advanceof the other, said connecting bars and the respective encircling membersbeing located in different horizontal planes, a foldable handle, andmeans whereby the folding and unfolding movements of the handle willdetect the said baillilre member.

9. In a folding carriage, the combination of a running gear frame, wheelsupports rotatably mounted to fold transversely thereof, connecting barssecuring said wheel supports together in pairs,a detlectablebail-lilcemerm ber depending below the frame, said member comprisingspaced arms and a connecting portion, one of said arms being disposedadjacent each of the connecting bars between the wheel support-s,encircling members surrounding and slidable upon each of the connectingbars and the respective adjacentarm, whereby the wheel supports will befolded against the frame when the bail-like member is deflected in onedirection and unfolded when detiected in the opposite direction, theconnecting portion between the arms of the baillike member beingdeflected to form a cam adapted to be engaged by one of the encirclingmembers to cause one of the pairs of wheel supports to fold in advanceof the other, ,aid connecting bars and the respective encircling membersbeing located in different horizontal planes, a foldable handle, meanswhereby the folding and unfolding movements of the handle will dotlectsaid bail-like member, and means for locking the handle againstfoldingmove ment.

10. A perambulator comprising frame, oppositely disposed wheel fran'pivoted upon the bed frame, wheels mount ed upon the wheel frames, aswinging yoke pivoted upon the bed frame, link members encirclingportions of the swinging yoke and moving therewith, said link me: bersalso encircling portions of the wheel frames and adapted to slide alongthe same.

In testimony whereof I have signed my a bed.

- name to this specifica ion, in the presence of two subscribingwitnesses, on this lth day of September, A. D. 1909.

ALBERT E. McGlLL. .Vitnesses CrmnLns H. SEEM, FRANCIS A. Hornrns.

Copies of this potent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Eatenct, Washington, I). Q,

